ENCO: Environmental Combat
Acknowledge. Control. Exit.
25 Years of Pressure-Tested Reality.
ENCO is the consolidation of two decades at the highest levels of combat and security. Developed by Colin Byrne—3rd Dan Ninjutsu black belt, pro-MMA coach, and corner-man to Conor McGregor—this system was forged in the most demanding environments on earth.
The ENCO Structure
Recognition Before Reaction.
Most systems teach you what to do after the first punch is thrown. ENCO starts earlier. It is a decision-making framework designed to reduce panic and replace social conditioning with survival intelligence.
ACKNOWLEDGE: Identify warning signs before you are surprised. We train you to see the "interview"—the verbal and physical tests aggressors use to check your compliance.
CONTROL: Manage the space, the emotional temperature, and the distance. Through The Fence and the Weapon of Sound, you learn to take away an aggressor's "certainty" that you are an easy target.
EXIT: The real success is leaving safely. We teach you to disengage decisively before pride or escalation enters the equation
The Psychology: Certainty vs. Uncertainty
From managing the doors of high-intensity nightclubs to providing personal protection for global icons like Madonna, U2, and Fortune 500 CEOs, ENCO is a summary of patterns seen in thousands of real-world incidents.
"I teach you something that after one session, you can use for life." — Colin Byrne
The ENCO Structure
Recognition Before Reaction.
Most systems teach you what to do after the first punch is thrown. ENCO starts earlier. It is a decision-making framework designed to reduce panic and replace social conditioning with survival intelligence.
ACKNOWLEDGE: Identify warning signs before you are surprised. We train you to see the "interview"—the verbal and physical tests aggressors use to check your compliance.
CONTROL: Manage the space, the emotional temperature, and the distance. Through The Fence and the Weapon of Sound, you learn to take away an aggressor's "certainty" that you are an easy target.
EXIT: The real success is leaving safely. We teach you to disengage decisively before pride or escalation enters the equation
The Psychology: Certainty vs. Uncertainty
Taking Away the Incentive.
Aggressors look for uncertainty—hesitation, apologizing, and over-explaining—because uncertainty equals opportunity. ENCO teaches you to project certainty through stable posture, neutral language, and controlled movement.
By breaking the social conditioning that forces us to be "polite" to strangers who make us uncomfortable, you gain the clarity needed to stay safe.
The Level 1 Intensive
Level 1 doesn't focus on sport-grappling or cage-fighting. It focuses on:
Pre-Contact Psychology: Understanding why good people freeze.
Social Dynamics: Recognizing the patterns that precede aggression.
The 3-Second Rule: If all else fails and an ambush is imminent, you learn to be first. "A controlled explosion is better than a bomb going off"
The Application
Are You Ready to See Differently?
ENCO is for the professional who values longevity and intelligence over ego. Training is conducted in private immersions at Shinobi Academy, Lagos.
OUR NEXT LEVEL 1 COURES STARTS
APRIL 3RD-5TH 2026. PLACES ARE VERY LIMITED.
SO BOOK TODAY.
Experience Matters
Colin Byrne: The Architect of ENCO
Frontline Experience. Global Pedigree. Proven Results.
Colin Byrne is the founder of ENCO (Environmental Combat), a reality-based self-protection system built from 25 years of frontline experience rather than theory or sport. His approach is defined by a unique intersection of traditional martial arts mastery, high-level professional security, and world-class athletic performance.
The Lineage of Mastery
Colin’s foundation in the combat arts began with the legendary Brian McCarthy (BBD), who awarded Colin his 3rd Dan Black Belt in Ninjutsu. Under Brian’s guidance—the best teacher and martial artist Colin has ever met—he was trained in the rigorous principles of Arrest and Restraint.
This technical foundation was further enriched by the work of Geoff Thomson, a pioneer and "truth seeker" in the martial arts world. Thomson's insights provided a vital perspective on the psychology of the "fence" and the reality of the street—elements that remain core to the ENCO philosophy
The Professional Crucible
For over 15 years, Colin worked on the doors in Dublin, navigating thousands of real-world violent incidents. This night-after-night exposure allowed him to identify the clear patterns of violence—how confrontations begin, escalate, and resolve—that now form the framework of the ENCO system.
His career in Personal Protection and surveillance saw him providing security for some of the world’s most high-profile individuals and organizations, including:
Entertainment Icons: Madonna and U2.
Corporate Leadership: CEOs of international pharmaceutical companies.
Specialized Training: Teaching arrest and restraint principles to elements of the United States Marine Corps.
The World Stage
Beyond security, Colin is a renowned figure in elite performance. He spent seven years on the road with Conor McGregor, serving as his cornerman for his most significant fights. Over the past 16 years, thousands of practitioners have come through the doors of Shinobi Academy, and Colin has collaborated with the industry's best, including Ido Portal, John Kavanagh, and Gunnar Nelson.
"My goal is that I teach you something that after one session, you can use for life." > — Colin Byrne
Courses
ENCO LEVEL 1
The Psychology of Pre-Contact Violence
ENCO Level 1 is not about fighting.
It is about interrupting violence before it becomes physical.
This level focuses on understanding how most real-world violence actually develops—
long before the first strike—and training the ability to recognise, manage, and exit these situations early.
Level 1 teaches the psychological stages that precede violence, moving from knowing something is wrong
to understanding what is happening, and then taking calm, deliberate action to prevent escalation.
Participants learn to:
Recognise behavioural patterns that precede attacks
Understand the “interview” phase of violence, where compliance and confidence are tested
Use acknowledgement without submission to remove an aggressor’s certainty
Control space, direction, and environment without force
Manage ego and significance to avoid escalation
Exit safely before initiation occurs
The core ENCO model follows a clear progression:
Knowing → Understanding → Acknowledgement → Control → Exit
Level 1 develops behavioural intelligence, not techniques.
It trains clarity under pressure, emotional neutrality, and decision-making in uncontrolled environments—
skills drawn from real frontline experience rather than theory or sport.
This is not self-defence in the traditional sense.
It is violence prevention through psychology, awareness, and control
Colin Byrne Chief Instructor & founder of ENCO
For additional details and to learn about our upcoming course, please reach out to us via email
Our Services
Focused training and protection systems rooted in discipline and real-world experience.
Enco Courses
Intensive 3-day certified self-protection training emphasizing environment and decision-making.
Shinobi Academy
Elite training camps in Lagos, Portugal, hosting professional fighters and teams.
Enco
Real-world self-protection, grounded in discipline and experience.
Contact Us
Reach out for course details, collaborations, or general enquiries.